This Bowmore 19 Year Old Cadenhead miniature has proven to be something of a mystery. The full-sized bottle remains elusive, meaning that I cannot 100% confirm when this was bottled. However, it was likely bottled in the 1980s. As such, much like the Ardbeg 17 Year Old I reviewed last week, we can assume that the whisky was distilled sometime in the 1960s.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at Bowmore Distillery during that period.
Bowmore Distillery, founded in 1779 on the Isle of Islay, Scotland, is one of the oldest in the country and has a storied history. During the 1960s, Bowmore experienced significant developments under the ownership of Stanley P. Morrison, who purchased the distillery in 1963.
This era saw the introduction of more modern distilling techniques while maintaining traditional practices, such as the floor maltings which continue to this day. Morrison has become a legendary name in Bowmore’s history.
The 1960s also saw the distillation of the infamous Black Bowmore 1964, which has been released in multiple batches.
The 1970s were marked by innovation and accolades. In 1972, Bowmore built a new visitor center, one of the first in the industry. This represented a shift towards tourism and direct engagement with whisky drinkers. This decade also saw the creation of some of Bowmore’s most iconic and collectible expressions, which were later released as extremely sought-after vintages.
Entering the 1980s, Bowmore navigated the turbulent whisky market with resilience. Despite the global downturn in whisky sales, which led many distilleries to reduce production or close, Bowmore continued to distill its unique style of single malt.
This Bowmore 19 Year Old, likely produced in the 1960s, reinforces the importance of the Stanley P. Morrison era. I doubt I will try another whisky this fine for a long, long time.
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